Confucianism
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Founder: Confucius
Bio: Confucius was born in June 19th, 551 B.C. His real name is Kong-fu-tse. When the missionaries went to China, they changed his name to Confucius. He was raised by his mother because his father died when he was 3. He married on an early age of 19 but eventually divorced his wife after 4 years of marriage because he wanted to have more lime for study and performance for his public duties. When he was 23, his mother died. Because of this, it gave occasion to the first solemn and important act of Confucius as a moral reformer.

Confucius travelled to many states to spread the religion. In most states, he was accepted but some didn't accept him at all. They imprisoned him and he nearly died of starvation. WIth no hope of attention to the religion, he returned to his native state and suffered poverty. In 479 B.C., he died at the age of 70.

Time Frame: 551 BC-479 BC

Reason for failure: Confucianism hasn't failed yet. It is still followed by many people around the world.

Unique: Its unique because Confucianism is not really a religion. It is more like a way of life or a philosophy.

Confucianism

Basic Beliefs
Li: includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.
Hsiao: love within the family: love of parents for their children and of children for their parents
Yi: righteousness
Xin: honesty and trustworthiness
Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards others; the highest Confucian virtue
Chung: loyalty to the state, etc.


Texts

The Si Shu or Four Books: The Lun Yu the Analects of Confucius
The Chung Yung or the Doctrine of the Mean
The Ta Hsueh or the Great Learning
The Meng Tzu the writings of Meng Tzu (371-289 BCE) a philosopher who, like Confucius, traveled from state to state conversing with the government rulers

The Wu Jing or Five Classics: Shu Ching or Classic of History: writings and speeches from ancient Chinese rulers
The Shih Ching or Classic of Odes: 300 poems and songs
The I Ching or Classic of Changes: the description of a divinitory system involving 64 hexagrams. The hexagrams are symbols composed of broken and continuous lines; one is selected to foretell the future based on the casting of 49 sticks.
The Ch'un Ch'iu or Spring and Autumn Annals: a history of the state of Lu from 722 to 484 BCE.
The Li Ching or Classic of Rites: a group of three books on the LI the rites of propriety



Quotes from Confucius

-Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
*Confucius is trying to tell the people that preparation is very very important. Great people who
success in life prepared, practiced and studied. That is why they are very rich and successfull.

-What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

-When anger rises, think of the consequences.

-If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

Impacts

Confucianism impacted the Chinese government. The government back then followed Confucius' teachings and China eventually became very prosperous.

Confucianism also impacted the world very strongly. There are still millions and millions of people who follow the teachings of Confucius but not necesarily follow the religion.

Links
www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-confucius-confucianism.htm
www.sacklunch.net/biography/c/confucius.html
www.religioustolerance.org/confu.htm

MLA
Robinson, B. A. "CONFUCIANISM." ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm>.

"Confucius: Biography of Confucius." History, mythology, Ben Franklin, Latin translations, earthquakes... 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/C/Confucius.html>.

"Confucius Confucianism Beliefs Religion: Truth Reality of Confucius, Confucianism.Confucius Quotes Pictures." On Truth and Reality: Philosophy Physics Metaphysics of Space, Wave Structure Matter. Famous Science Art Quotes. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Confucius-Confucianism.htm>.